Sage Smudges

A couple weekends ago we attended one of our favorite autumn events,

a primitive skills rendezvous.

Or, you could call it a gathering,

since it wasn't what folks typically think of

when they think of "rendezvouing"--

buckskinners, black powder competitions, tomahawk throwing.

Nope, we are talking aboriginal here.

Flint knapping (making arrowheads from stone)

bow and arrow making--then friendly competition!

blowguns made from rivercane with cattail tipped darts,

wild edibles and medicinals,

making cordage and baskets from found natural materials,

making fire by rubbing sticks together...

(seriously! it's called using a bowdrill!)

making pottery from clay you dig out of the ground

and fire it in a campfire...

hide tanning with brains, the native way...

you get the idea.

I was privileged to spend several hours with a lovely

Native American woman who taught me to make

a basket from pine needles.

(Which will be another post!)

During my class time, we were bothered with a lot of flies

who were doing their usual thing.....flying around and bothering people.

My Native teacher pulled out several sage smudge sticks,

lit them and laid them around the area where we were working...

I was amazed at how effective they were in discouraging the pests--

and I fell in love with the scent of burning sage smudges!

They have such a delicious aroma,

definately puts me in the mood for all things autumn

and I think enhances my creativity...

:D

As I asked my Native teacher questions about the smudges,

I learned that she collects the sage herself from New Mexico

and sells them at pow-wows and rendezvous

that she attends throughout the year--

so you can be sure I brought a few home!

While on our most recent "moving" trip to the farm,

I noticed a lot of plants that appeared to be wild sage

and so I decided to gather some

and make some smudges for out of them myself.

I haven't been able to positively identify the plant I gathered, yet,

but it has a very strong and sage-y scent and I like it!

It may actually be a type of wormwood or artemesia

rather than the wild sage I think it is...

I'll try to identify it again in the spring when it comes up

and I have more time.

The smudge sticks are quite easy to make,

you just gather the plant material into a bundle,

stem ends together,

tie some string

(feed sack string or crochet thread works fine)

around the stem end and start wrapping.

When you get to the blossom end,

start wrapping back the way you came

and tie the ends together when you reach the stem end again.

Hang them up in a warm dry place with good ventialtion

and in 1-2 weeks they should be done.

I made several bundles, and they have hung for about 10

days now, so I decided to light one up and try it.

It is a bit different scent from the ones I brought home

from the primitive skills gathering...

I think I like the smudges from New Mexico better...

but these will definately work for me.

I don't use these in exactly the same way the Natives do...

I don't worship the "spirits" of the plants or animals...

I worship the God in Heaven who created and sustains

all plant, animal and human life...

but I am respectful of all created life,

and I am incredibly grateful for all the good things

the Creator has placed in this world for my health and happiness.

The smoke from these burning smudges

helps keep the pestilence away...

and the scent brings me joy...

both are benefits that make me healthy and happy!